Moody’s Offspring: An Educational Vision Birthed in the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair

J. Wilbur Chapman once declared that D. L. Moody was “so deeply impressed” with his own Chicago Bible Institute that “he cherished the hope that, at no distant day, there might be institutes of this character in all of our great centres of population.” A strategic individual who embraced Moody’s educational vision was William R. Jordan, who heard Moody at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. This article argues, however, that Jordan developed his own dream not merely by hearing Moody speak to the importance of ministerial training, but also by seeing Moody’s students at work in practical Christian ministry. They were actively engaged in his World’s Fair evangelistic outreach, filling key positions and enhancing the overall campaign. The educational institution established by Jordan carries on Moody’s initial vision of biblical instruction and training in Christian ministry, although adjusting the original model.